Arimidex
Anastrozole is the technical name for the commonly known as Arimidex. It helps to suppress the production of estrogen in women, making it easier to target and fight against certain health concerns.
Reasons to use
Arimidex is often used for women who have gone through menopause who are diagnosed with various types of breast cancer. Since estrogen can cause the cancer cells to spread, this is a good product to take in order to slow them down. This allows other forms of treatment to target the cancer cells and there is less of a risk they will spread to other regions of the body.
Dosing
The use of Arimidex involves taking a tablet each day. It is important to take it at the same time each day. To reduce the risk of nausea, take it with food. Don’t skip doses and don’t increase the dose without the consent of your doctor. Never skip doses as that will reduce the value this product is able to offer. The dose is going to vary, depending on the weight of the patient and their medical needs.
Most medical professionals will start a patient at a low dose. This is to evaluate how their body responds to it. This is also to evaluate the benefits it can offer. A patient may need to take Arimidex for several weeks before the value of it to them is known. The dose may need to be adjusted at future appointments. It is important to work closely with your doctor and to keep all scheduled appointments.
Possible Side Effects
While there can be side effects associated with the use of Arimidex, they tend to be very mild. Most patients find they go away after a few weeks of use. The higher the dose, the higher the risk of various side effects. Most medical professionals agree the risk of such side effects is far less than the potential benefits this product can offer.
Such side effects a user of Arimidex may experience include:
- Chronic coughing
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Weight gain
If you experience any serious side effects, you need to seek medication attention. The problems can continue to get worse if you don’t take action early. Such serious side effects include:
- Anxiety
- Changes in vision
- Depression
- Pain in the muscles, joints, or bones
- Numbness of the extremities
- Swelling of the hands or feet
- Unusual discharge from the vagina
- Yellowing of the skin
Precautions
Women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant shouldn’t touch the Arimidex or breathe in the dust from it. While most women taking it are through menopause, that isn’t always the case. Take additional precautions to prevent pregnancy, but make sure the birth control doesn’t contain any types of estrogen.
Women shouldn’t breastfeed while taking Arimidex as the product can be passed to the child through the milk. A woman should be off of this product for at least three weeks before they consider breastfeeding. This is to ensure all traces of it are out of the bloodstream.
While an allergic reaction isn’t common, it can happen. It is very important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following when you start taking Arimidex:
- Rash
- Itching
- Swelling of the face or hands
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe dizziness
Make sure you share with your doctor any medications you may be allergic to. There can be ingredients found in Arimidex that wouldn’t be good for someone with certain types of allergic reactions.
Individuals with a history of the following aren’t a good candidate for the use of Arimidex:
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Bone disease
- High blood pressure
- Blood clots
Do not drive a vehicle or operate machinery until you know how Arimidex is going to affect you. Taking part in such activities without verifying your body is going to respond well to it can put you and others around you at risk of injury. It is not recommended to use this product with the intake of alcohol or marijuana.
Drug Interactions
Fully disclose to your doctor all types of medications you use. This includes herbal products, those you buy over the counter, and those that have been prescribed to you. Share how long you have been using them, the frequency, and the dose. Not all of those products may interact well with the introduction of Arimidex.
